{{Short description|Illegal practice in equestrianism}} thumb|Artist's rendition of a horse undergoing exercise under heavy hyperflexion. '''Rollkur''' or '''hyperflexion of the horse's neck''' is defined as "flexion of the horse's neck achieved through aggressive force" and is banned in International and Olympic sanctioned equestrian sports by the governing body, the International Federation for Equestrian Sports (FEI).<ref name=HH1>{{cite news|last=White|first=Charlotte|publisher=Horse and Hound|title=FEI outlaws rollkur when ridden using aggressive force|date=2010-02-10|url=http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/news/397/294724.html}}</ref><ref name="tol1">{{Cite web |last=MacArthur |first=Jenny |date=2010-02-10 |title=Public outcry brings ban on controversial equestrianism warm up |url=https://www.thetimes.com/article/public-outcry-brings-ban-on-controversial-equestrianism-warm-up-hbkt6w0jk5b |access-date=2024-07-29 |website=The Times|language=en}}</ref> The FEI recognises a distinction between rollkur and the riding of the horse in a deep outline not achieved by force.<ref name=HH1/>
Rollkur has been used by dressage and show jumping riders. The technique has been controversial for some time;<ref>{{cite web|publisher=FEI|title=Round table conference resolves Rollkur controversy |url=http://www.fei.org/disciplines/dressage/press-releases/fei-round-table-conference-resolves-rollkur-controversy|date=2010-02-09| access-date = 2013-03-07}}</ref> petitions and boycotts (including a threatened boycott of the London 2012 Olympics) have been created to ban the practice.<ref name=tol1/><ref>{{cite web|publisher=Dressage Disgrace|title=Rollkur 101 - What you need to know|url=http://www.dressagedisgrace.com/rollkur-101}}</ref> The FEI moved to ban the practice following the release of video of Swedish dressage rider Patrik Kittel using rollkur during a competition warm-up, where the horse's tongue appeared to turn blue as a result of the manoeuvre.<ref name=tol1/><ref>{{cite news|publisher=Horse and Hound|last=Butcher|first=Abigail|title=Rollkur row under discussion by FEI|date=2009-11-12|url=http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/competitionnews/388/291767.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100911211606/http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/competitionnews/388/291767.html|archive-date=2010-09-11}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|publisher=Horse and Hound|title="I've had hate mail" days dressage rider at centre of blue tongue row|date=2009-11-06|url=http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/competitionnews/386/291500.html}}</ref>
==Usage== thumb|Horse training in rollkur Rollkur is most often used in dressage training, popularized by Nicole Uphoff and Isabell Werth in the 1990's.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Pascoe |first=Elaine |date=2016-10-21 |title=Hyperflexion: Going to Extremes |url=https://practicalhorsemanmag.com/health/hyperflexion-in-horses/ |access-date=2024-11-12 |website=Practical Horseman |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2017-08-15 |title=Dr Uwe Schulten-Baumer – an interview with Christian Thiess – The Horse Magazine |url=https://www.horsemagazine.com/thm/2017/08/dr-uwe-schulten-baumer-an-interview-with-christian-thiess/ |access-date=2024-11-12 |language=en-AU}}</ref> In 2008 at the FEI Dressage World Cup, the 15 highest-scoring equine competitors spent the majority of performance time in hyperflexion in all primary gaits.<ref name=":2">{{Cite journal |last1=Lashley |first1=Morgan J. J. O. |last2=Nauwelaerts |first2=Sandra |last3=Vernooij |first3=J. C. M. |last4=Back |first4=W. |last5=Clayton |first5=Hilary M. |date=2014-12-01 |title=Comparison of the head and neck position of elite dressage horses during top-level competitions in 1992 versus 2008 |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1090023314003657 |journal=The Veterinary Journal |volume=202 |issue=3 |pages=462–465 |doi=10.1016/j.tvjl.2014.08.028 |pmid=25296851 |issn=1090-0233|url-access=subscription }}</ref> In 2014 a study found out of 355 horses in a competition environment, 69% were behind the vertical, an umbrella term referring to all hyperflexion - including the most severe instance, rollkur.<ref name=":2" /> [[File:Draw reins and running martingale.jpg|thumb|Rollkur in use during western riding]] Intentional hyperflexion is traceable back to François Baucher. Baucher, however, asked for hyperflexion while placing emphasis on maintaining forwardness and impulsion, using a technique referred to as 'ramener outre'.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Flexions and Flexibility: Part II |url=https://eurodressage.com/2018/01/21/flexions-and-flexibility-part-ii |access-date=2024-11-12 |website=Eurodressage |language=en}}</ref> Hyperflexion has also been observed being used in other disciplines such as reining and show jumping.
==Rationale== Proponents point to leading riders and trainers who apply this technique and have consistent winning scores in the arena. Studies have supported this, with results indicating that horses in hyperflexion were awarded higher scores by judges in competition. The scoring advantage is attributed to greater exaggeration of the horses' leg and back movements, which thereby appear more expressive, as well as more extreme forward protraction of the front legs.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=2015-11-05 |title=Hyperflexion in Review |url=https://thehorse.com/113453/hyperflexion-in-review/ |access-date=2019-11-17 |website=The Horse |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2016-01-05 |title=Hyperflexion in International Dressage: 1992 vs. 2008 |url=https://thehorse.com/113852/hyperflexion-in-international-dressage-1992-vs-2008/ |access-date=2019-11-17 |website=The Horse |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":2" /> Those who train horses using rollkur (colloquially referred to as low, deep, and round) have claimed the practice can increase control of the horse, relax a tense horse, and provide a deep stretch through the neck and over the back.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sjef Janssen, Dr. Rene van Weeren and Anky van Grunsven on Coaching and Hyperflexion |url=https://www.eurodressage.com/2006/11/06/sjef-janssen-dr-rene-van-weeren-and-anky-van-grunsven-coaching-and-hyperflexion |access-date=2024-11-12 |website=Eurodressage |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Pascoe |first=Elaine |date=2016-10-21 |title=Hyperflexion: Going to Extremes |url=https://practicalhorsemanmag.com/health/hyperflexion-in-horses/ |access-date=2024-11-12 |website=Practical Horseman |language=en-US}}</ref>
== Health and welfare == Hyperflexion of the neck has been linked to airway obstruction, musculoskeletal pathology, stress, fear, and pain in horses.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":3">{{Cite web|url=https://equitationscience.com/equitation/position-statement-on-alterations-of-the-horses-head-and-neck-posture-in-equitation|title=Position statement on alterations of the horse's head and neck posture in equitation{{!}} International Society for Equitation Science|website=equitationscience.com|language=en-gb|access-date=2019-11-18}}</ref>
Horses ridden in hyperflexion show more conflict behaviors (resistance to the rider's commands) and signs of discomfort, even at the highest level of competition, indicating that the posture is aversive even after prolonged training and experience.<ref name=":4">{{Cite journal|last1=Kienapfel|first1=Kathrin|last2=Link|first2=Yvonne|last3=König v. Borstel|first3=Uta|date=2014-08-04|title=Prevalence of Different Head-Neck Positions in Horses Shown at Dressage Competitions and Their Relation to Conflict Behaviour and Performance Marks|journal=PLOS ONE|volume=9|issue=8|article-number=e103140|doi=10.1371/journal.pone.0103140|issn=1932-6203|pmc=4121138|pmid=25090242|doi-access=free|bibcode=2014PLoSO...9j3140K }}</ref>
Rollkur also impacts forward vision, as horses have a relatively limited vertical field of vision and cannot see in front of them with their noses pointing vertically downwards or backwards. This may itself lead to further stress while in hyperflexion, as the horse cannot adequately watch out for obstacles while moving forward.<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":4" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://horsetalk.co.nz/2015/08/07/hyperflexion-thumbs-down-equitation-scientists/|title=Hyperflexion gets the thumbs down from equitation scientists|last=Horsetalk.co.nz|date=2015-08-06|website=Horsetalk.co.nz|language=en-US|access-date=2019-11-18}}</ref>
==Arguments for banning== Despite the official FEI rules of dressage, which state that "the head should remain in a steady position, as a rule slightly in front of the vertical, with a supple poll as the highest point of the neck",<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2019-01-01 |title=FEI Dressage Rules |url=https://inside.fei.org/sites/default/files/FEI_Dressage_Rules_2019_Mark_Up_Version_6.9.19.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191117232828/https://inside.fei.org/sites/default/files/FEI_Dressage_Rules_2019_Mark_Up_Version_6.9.19.pdf |archive-date=2019-11-17 |access-date=2019-11-17 |website=FEI |publisher=Fédération Equestre Internationale |language=en}}</ref> horses in FEI competition routinely work with their heads behind the vertical, in hyperflexion.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /> Judges have been found to penalize competitors for heavy use of behind the vertical posture at lower levels of competition, but not at the higher levels of competition.<ref name=":4" /><ref name=":2" />
Debates remain as to whether rollkur constitutes animal abuse, both physically, due to the held over-flexed position and mentally due to forced submission, however the practice remains commonplace in dressage competition.<ref name=":4" />
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *[http://cs.thehorse.com/blogs/2012-london-olympics-equestrian-coverage/archive/2012/08/11/the-quot-rollkur-quot-controversy.aspx The Rollkur Controversy] *[http://www.horsetalk.co.nz/news/2009/01/107.shtml Researchers explore neck hyperflexion in horses - Horsetalk.co.nz 28.1.09] *[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0xqexCktspk&feature=PlayList&p=E5F2368118F2B2E0&index=9 Rollkur] *[http://sustainabledressage.com/rollkur/index.php Explanation of Rollkur's Disadvantages] *[http://www.thehorse.com/ViewArticle.aspx?ID=20201 Dutch Warmbloods study]
Category:Horse training Category:Dressage Category:Show jumping Category:Riding techniques and movements Category:Equine welfare Category:Western-style riding Category:Horse showing and exhibition